Cam centered electric switch with moisture-proof sealing means



Dec. 7, 1965 B. F. MEYER CAM CENTERED ELECTRIC SWITCH WITHMOISTURE-PROOF SEALING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 24, 1965 r 4 26 4 8 4 6842 6605655268 Ry 8/ ,.,2 41,. leaumm w W /X .MWF W m 8 Nd 4 I.fninli :LINK .l 2 v. I|.4l: `.`."yo0 .n I s 4Jw lm/l. 11,65 N 8 r H f 3www @1, 0D l l.. 4 a n r r u i M W 8 o w O 2 5 O I 3 3 u 42 A 9 5 6 g 2F 2 2 f 2 O 5 2 8 6 W. l 6 2 8 6 A 4 6 6 m 4 M 2 A. .w 5 o l/T /Z 4HIIIIIH H H||||||Ill||| IH 4 Q ./rl/ l w 8 l GNN. 4 O 7J 4 w 3 O 2 6 u.o 8 3 3 8 ANS Dec. 7, 1965 s. F. MEYER CAM CENTERED ELECTRIC SWIT WITHMOISTURE-PROOF SEALING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 24, 1965 BY Ol @I MMUnited States Patent Office 3,222,467 Patented Dec. 7, 1965 3,222,467CAM CENTERED ELECTRIC SWITCH WITH MOISTURE-PROOF SEALING MEANS BertholdF. Meyer, Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada, assignor to General MotorsCorporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 24,1963, Ser. No. 290,006 12 Claims. (Cl. 200-16) This invention relates toelectrical switches and more particularly to a type of electrical switchthat is useful in controlling the reciprocative movement of automobilewindows.

It is an object of this invention to provide a switch having amoisture-proof switching area.

It is another object of this invention to provide a switch that will beeconomical to manufacture and easily assembled.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a selfcenteringspring whose translational movement is controlled by cam surfaces.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention areclearly In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the switch shown in position on anautomobile door;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 3 3 of FIGURE l showing aswitch in an actuated position;

FIGURE 5 shows an embodiment of the invention wherein multiple switchesare contained within a single body to control the reciprocative movementof all windows in an automobile;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6 6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIGURE 6.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURE 2, anescutcheon 10 is secured to a base 12 by the cooperation of apertures 14in the escutcheon 10 and a series of resilient legs 16 of the base 12. Acontact plate 18 carries a plurality of contacts 20, said plate beingheld in operative position by being wedged between portions of the base12 and the flange 22 of the escutcheon 10.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, an actuator button 24 is kept in centered,biased engagement with the escutcheon 10 by the resilient leaf springs26 that are struck downwardly from a plate fitted to the cup-shapedunderside of the button. The resilient leaf springs 26 can be of anyconductive material and the downwardly projecting legs have curvedportions 28 disposed to make electrical contact with one of the contactsduring movement of the actuator 24 in either direction. Duringtranslational movement of the actuator 24, the cam portions 30 and 32cooperate with cam portions 34 and 36 of the escutcheon 10 to guide theactuator. During this movement, the resilient leaf springs 26 serve tocenter the actuator buttonV 24 by continually biasing the actuatortowards the cam Awalls 34 and 36 on the escutcheon. The actuator button24 has a peripheral slot 38 disposed to cooperate with a beaded end 40Iof a seal 42 which is formed of a suitable elastomeric material such asrubber. A beaded portion 44 serves to maintain the seal 42 in itsoperative position by being wedged between the escutcheon 10 and thecontact plate 18 during assembly of the switch, thus rendering theswitching area 46 of the switch free from the penetration of moistureand dust.

A series of insulated strip conductors 48 pass int-o the switch bodythrough aperture 50 and are rmly retained therein by being biasedbetween portions 52 and 54 of the connector 56. The connector 56 has anaperture 58 that cooperates with the contacts 20 to establish aconductive path into the switching area 46. Each connector 56 hasoutwardly extending anges 60 and 62 which cooperate respectively with aseries of apertures 64 in the contact plate 18 and a wall portion 66 ofthe base 12 to prevent the connectors from being accidentally withdrawn.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, another embodiment of the present inventionis illustrated wherein a series of switches, such as previouslydescribed, are contained within a single escutcheon 68 and base portion70 for use as a master control panel for the electric windows of anautomobile. The same reference numerals have been used in FIGURES 6 and7 as were used in FIGURES 1 through 4 to identify equivalent parts ineach figure.

As best seen in FIGURE 5, the master control panel is located near thedrivers position of an automobile.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, a seal 72 is attached in much the same manneras the previously described seal 42 except that the seal has a series ofapertures with beaded edges 74 that cooperate with peripheral grooves 76of the actuators 78 to render the switching area 80 free from moistureand dust.

In operation, the switch of FIGURE 6 is held in operative position in anaperture in a panel 82 by means of a biased engagement between aresilient wall portion 84 of the base 12 and a surface S6 of theescutcheon 10 in the same manner as shown in FIGURE 2.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, finger pressure is exerted on a contouredsurface 88 or 90 of the actuator button 24 which causes the actuatorbutton to slide along the cam portion 36 or 34 of the escutcheon 10. Asthe actuator reaches a position as illustrated in FIGURE 4, theresilient leaf springs 26 are depressed and are disposed to complete acircuit through one of the contacts 20 from a current source to anothercontact 20 connected to a window lift motor. As a desired amount ofwindow movement is achieved, finger pressure from either of the contactsurfaces 88 or 90 is released and the resilient leaf springs 26 urge theactuator 24 along the cam portion 34 or 36 to a centered position in theescutcheon 10. This centering action previously described is duplicatedif the actuator button 24 is moved in the opposite direction from thatshown in FIGURE 4.

In the sectional view of the multiple switch embodiment shown in FIGURE7, the action of the individual actuators 78 is exactly the same as thatof the single button embodiment shown in FIGURE 4.

The utility of this invention is demonstrated in an application where itserves to control the reciprocative movements of electrically operatedwindows in an automobile. In the environment in which an automobileoperates, Very often moisture and dust accumulate on areas inside theautomobile. This accumulation of moisture and dust can cause the switchto short out or become inoperative when an accumulation of the foreignmatter within the switch body occurs. The switch of this inventionprevents entry of foreign matter into the switching area as describedhereinbefore.

Also, very often rapid movements of varying amounts are required toadjust the windows of an automobile. It is imperative that the actuator,once moved, will auto matically center itself without any further manualpressure.

Again, a switch of the type described has the further advantage ofpurging itself of oxide build-ups by the sliding action of the cams `andthe resilient leaf springs. The compression of the leaf springs, duringactuation in cooperation with the cam ramps, provides a method ofdispensing with some type of separate centering spring means.

While the embodiments of the present invention, as herein disclosed,constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An electrical switch for a plurality of electrical circuitscomprising a body having a switching chamber, an actuator means slidablydisposed against a portion of said body within said switching chamberand biasedly carrying a resilient contact means to conduct currentselectively to one or more of the plurality of electrical circuits, saidactuator means having a portion engaging said contact means disposedwithin sealing means providing a moisture free switching chamber, saidactuator means biased to a centered position by said resilient contactmeans.

2. An electrical switch for a plurality of electrical circuitscomprising, a body having apertures therein, an actuator means slidablydisposed within said body and having a portion cooperating with one ofsaid apertures to allow external manipulation of said actuator means,fixed contact means carried by said body and electrically engaging theplurality of electrical circuits, and a contact means resilientlycarried by said actuator means to bias said actuator means in centeredrelation to said aperture, said contact means being slidably disposed toeffect electrical contact with one or more xed contacts connected withsaid plurality of electrical circuits upon movement of said actuatormeans, said contact means being a unitary element.

3. An electrical switch for a plurality of electrical circuitscomprising a body having one portion engageable with a second portion,an actuator means having a peripheral groove and being slidably disposedwithin said body, contact means resiliently carried by said actuatormeans and said body, and an elastomeric seal having a portion ttedwithin said peripheral groove in said actuator means, said seal engagingsaid body portions to effect a moisture and dust seal for an areacontaining said contact means while said slidably disposed actuatormeans is in any operative position, said contact means including aunitary element carrying contacts and centering said actuator means.

4. An electrical switch comprising, a body including a cover portionhaving an aperture, a contact plate and a base portion engaging saidcover portion and holding said contact plate in operative position, anactuator means slidable between the cover and base portion of the bodyand having a peripheral groove, a contact means carried by said actuatorand holding said actuator means in biased, sliding engagement with saidcover portion, said contact means so positioned as to make contact withelectrical contacts carried in said contact plate during translationalmovement of said actuator means, and an elastomeric member engaged bysaid actuator carried grooves and said contact plate as operativelypositioned to render the area of electrical switching moisture proofwhile said slidable actuator means is in any position, said contactmeans being a unitary element.

5. An electrical switch comprising, a body having a cam portion, anactuator means having a cam portion cooperating with the cam portion ofsaid body, said actuator means being resiliently centered and slidableas positioned for translational movement along said cam portions, acontact plate carrying contacts, and a slidable contact means engagingsaid actuator means and being yieldable as the actuator moves on saidcam portion to center said actuator means along said cam portions andbeing slidable along said Contact plate during the translationalmovement of said actuator means thereby engaging said contact platecarried contacts, said contact means being a unitary element.

6. An electrical switch having a moisture tight switching areacomprising, a body having two downwardly projecting cam portions, aplurality -of apertures in said body, a base member having a pluralityof resilient legs cooperating with said apertures to hold said body inassembled disposition, an actuator means having two upwardly projectingcam portions cooperating with the body carried cam portions, saidactuator means being disposed within said body and being translationallymovable, a resilient contact carrying element translationally movableand carried in biased engagement with said actuator means for centeringsaid actuator means between the body carried cam portions, a contactplate disposed between two portions of said body and carried by saidbase member carrying electrical contacts which cooperate with saidresilient contact carrying means during translational movement, and anelastomeric means cooperating with said actuator means and said contactplate to render the contact switching area moisture tight.

7. An electrical switch according to claim 6 wherein the body has aswitching area therein, a slidable actuator means, and an elastomericshroud engaging said slidable actuator means and said body to rendersaid switching area moisture tight.

8. A three position electrical switch comprising a body having aplurality of cam surfaces, a slidable actuator means having a camsurface slidable on the plurality of body carried cam surfaces, saidactuator means mounted for translational movement from a neutralposition to either of two points, and a resilient contact element havingleg portions disposed to bias the slidable actuator towards said bodycarried cam surfaces during said translational movement and centeringsaid actuator means between the plurality of body carried cam surfacesafter translational movement to either of said two points.

9. An electrical switch for controlling the reciprocative movement ofautomobile windows, comprising a body having a cover portion cooperatingwith a base portion to form a switching area, an actuator meanstranslationally movable in said body, a resilient contact means carriedin biased engagement with said actuator means and arranged to movetherewith, and a contact plate held between a cover portion and a baseportion of said body, said actuator means being held in an operativeposition by the contact means urging said actuator means against saidcover portion, said contact plate carrying contacts and being engageablewith the resilient contact means moving in response to the translationalmovement of said actuator means, the cover portion of said body havingan aperture therein with downwardly extending cam surfaces extendinginto the switching area on a plurality of sides of said aperture, saidactuator means having a peripheral groove thereon and several upwardlyprojecting cam surfaces engaging the cover carried cam surfaces wherebythe actuator means is guided in translational movement, vsaid resilientcontact being compressed and holding said actuator means in biasedengagement with said cover carried cam surfaces during translationalmovement and centering said actuator in said cover disposed apertureafter said movement, said switch area being kept moisture tight by anelastomeric means engaging the peripheral groove of said actuator meansand being wedged between the contact plate and the cover portion of thebody during assembly thereby forming a moisture tight enclosure for saidswitching area, said actuator and said resilient contact means beingtranslationally moved across said contact plate engaging contactstherein, thereby selectively energizing electrical window lift circuits.

10. An electrical switch for mounting in an aperture in a wall,comprising a body, a said body being formed in part by a cover portionhaving downwardly projecting anges including apertures therein, acontact carrying plate, a base portion havinga plurality of resilientupwardly projecting legs, said body having a compartment wherein anactuator means translatonally movable between points on said contactcarrying plate is disposed, said actuator means being heldv in biasedengagement with said switch body by a resilient contact means diS- posedbetween said contact carrying plate and said actuator means, saidupwardly projecting legs having hooked portions engaging the aperturesin said downwardly projecting anges for holding said switch body inassembled disposition, said resilient upwardly projecting legsengageable with the sides of an aperture in which said switch ismounted.

11. The combination of an electrical switch and a sealing means for theswitching means of said switch, said switch comprising, a body having acover portion resiliently engaging a base portion including a contactplate disposed therebetween, an actuator means having a peripheralgroove slidably disposed on said contact plate, said actuator means andsaid plate comprising said switching means, said sealing meanscomprising an elastomeric member having a beaded periphery disposedwithin said groove in said actuator means, said sealing means having aresilient engagement with the contact plate and said cover portionthereby providing a shield against moisture and dust for said switchingmeans.

12. An electrical switch for an electric Window lift mechanism, saidswitch having a neutral position, comprising, a body having a coverportion including an aperture, said body having a plurality of camsurfaces, an actuator means adapted for translational movement in saidbody while having one portion extending through said aperture, a secondportion of said actuator means being formed as a series of cam memberscooperating with said plurality of body carried cam portions to controlsaid translational movement, said actuator means having a third portionof substantially cup-shaped, a plate carrying several contacts, and aresilient contact member carried by said third portion and having oneportion cooperating with said plate carried contacts to provide a pathfor current ow, said resilient contact member having a second portioniitting within said cup-shaped portion and being compressible as saidactuator member moves along the plurality of cam surfaces duringtranslational movement, said compressed contact member urging saidactuator member to a centered position in said aperture aftertranslational movement thereby providing a neutral position for saidswitch.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS KATHLEEN H.CLAFFY, Primary Examiner. BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Examiner.

1. AN ELECTRICAL SWITCH FOR A PLURALITY OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITSCOMPRISING A BODY HAVING A SWITCHING CHAMBER, AN ACTUATOR MEANS SLIDABLYDISPOSED AGAINST A PORTION OF SAID BODY WITHIN SAID SWITCHING CHAMBERAND BIASEDLY CARRYING A RESILIENT CONTACT MEANS TO CONDUCT CURRENTSELECTIVELY TO ONE OR MORE OF THE PLURALITY OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS, SAIDACTUATOR MEANS HAVING A PORTION ENGAGING SAID CONTACT MEANS DISPOSEDWITHIN SEALING MEANS PROVIDING A MOISTURE FREE SWITCHING CHAMBER, SAIDACTUATOR MEANS BIASED TO A CENTERED POSITION BY SAID RESILIENT CONTACTMEANS.